Who funds environment and conservation in California
From 2022 to 2025, 1,998 foundations and charities reported 9,451 grants to 900 environmental and conservation nonprofits in California. The typical grant was $15,000.
The funders that paid the most of them: Silicon Valley Community Foundation (84), Marin Community Foundation (68) and Resources Legacy Fund (60).
From IRS grant records. Counts nonprofits with budgets under $5,000,000.
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The 15 funders that paid the most environmental and conservation nonprofits in California
| Funder | Nonprofits paid | Typical grant | Latest year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silicon Valley Community Foundation Mountain View, CA | 84 | $31,000 | 2024 |
| Marin Community Foundation Novato, CA | 68 | $20,000 | 2024 |
| Resources Legacy Fund Sacramento, CA | 60 | $65,000 | 2024 |
| The San Diego Foundation San Diego, CA | 59 | $50,000 | 2024 |
| Tides Foundation San Francisco, CA | 44 | $50,000 | 2024 |
| San Francisco Foundation San Francisco, CA | 38 | $24,500 | 2024 |
| Impactassets Inc Bethesda, MD | 37 | $25,000 | 2024 |
| California Community Foundation Los Angeles, CA | 35 | $25,000 | 2024 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc New York, NY | 35 | $100,000 | 2024 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Washington, DC | 34 | $58,095 | 2024 |
| Santa Barbara Foundation Santa Barbara, CA | 32 | $26,650 | 2024 |
| Orange County Community Foundation Irvine, CA | 31 | $50,000 | 2023 |
| The Schmidt Family Foundation Palo Alto, CA | 29 | $150,000 | 2024 |
| United States Energy Foundation San Francisco, CA | 29 | $100,000 | 2024 |
| Sempra Energy Foundation San Diego, CA | 28 | $200 | 2024 |
Recent grants
- Silicon Valley Community Foundation paid LL Green from Garbage $1,600,000 in 2024. Purpose: General nonprofit support.
- Marin Community Foundation paid Point Reyes National Seashore Association $2,535,647 in 2024. Purpose: Provide general operating support.
- Resources Legacy Fund paid Marine Protected Area Collaborative Network (mpa Cn) $413,750 in 2024. Purpose: Land or marine conservation, climate change, and/or environmental equity and justice.
- The San Diego Foundation paid Just Transition Alliance $1,912,356 in 2024. Purpose: To support just transition alliances time as part of the tcc post award consultation (pac).
- Tides Foundation paid Physicians Scientists and Engineers for Sustainable and Healthy Energy $982,268 in 2024. Purpose: Sustainable environment.
- San Francisco Foundation paid Point Reyes National Seashore Association $270,250 in 2024. Purpose: For general and project support.
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Other causes in California
- Who funds food banks and food pantries in California (658 funders)
- Who funds homeless shelters and services in California (564 funders)
- Who funds affordable housing in California (459 funders)
- Who funds animal rescue and shelters in California (1246 funders)
- Who funds veterans in California (257 funders)
- Who funds youth development in California (1996 funders)
- Who funds youth sports and recreation in California (1450 funders)
- Who funds arts and culture in California (3571 funders)
- Who funds K-12 education in California (2848 funders)
- Who funds health clinics and health care in California (1615 funders)
- Who funds mental health in California (1067 funders)
- Who funds disability services in California (528 funders)
- Who funds senior services in California (346 funders)
- Who funds domestic violence shelters and services in California (415 funders)
- Who funds child care and early childhood in California (239 funders)
- Who funds job training and employment in California (600 funders)
- Who funds legal aid in California (348 funders)
- Who funds community development in California (1308 funders)
- Who funds family and children's services in California (1239 funders)
Environment and conservation in other states
Questions people ask
Who gives the most grants to environment and conservation in California?
By the number of nonprofits paid from 2022 to 2025, the leading funders were Silicon Valley Community Foundation (84), Marin Community Foundation (68), Resources Legacy Fund (60). The count in parentheses is how many environmental and conservation nonprofits in California each one paid.
How big is a typical grant to environment and conservation in California?
The median grant was $15,000 across 9,451 grants. Half were smaller and half were larger. Each funder's own typical grant is in the table above.
Do these funders accept applications?
Not always. IRS records show who a funder paid, not whether it takes new applicants. Open the funder's website and read its guidelines before you reach out.
Where does this data come from?
From grants reported to the IRS on Form 990 Schedule I and Form 990-PF for 2022 to 2025, matched to each recipient's IRS record. It counts environmental and conservation nonprofits with budgets under $5,000,000, by their IRS cause code. Donor-advised fund sponsors are left out.